The North East Community Foundation assists a diverse group of donors in improving the quality of life in and around North East, PA. by creating permanent and flexible endowments, making it easy to carry out donor’s philanthropic interests in a professional and timely manner.

On May 7, 1991 the first nine directors of the North East Community Foundation were elected and officers appointed. Tax exempt status as a Public Foundation was received from the IRS on September 21, 1991.

In January 1992, an anonymous gift of $100,000 was received by the Foundation to be used for charitable purposes and established us as a true Public Foundation within the community. In early 1997 we received $136,005 from the estate of Dorothy Bertges-Thornton. The income from this gift had designated annual distribution to six local organizations. In following years a number of other funds were established within the Foundation and to date the North East Community Foundation has distributed over $500,000 in donor advised, designated or unrestricted funds to deserving charities in our area.

At the October 18, 2000 Board action was taken to become affiliated with Erie Community Foundation and the document was signed on March 14, 2001. Doing so provides the North East Community Foundation with the investment and development expertise of a $150 million foundation, we would not otherwise have.